CHAPTER LXVil.

1 HE GOD said ;—Now I shall describe to you thr
process of replacing an old image* The priest should bathe
the im^ge with all the ornaments on. A divine representa-
tion which belongs to the Achala or the fixed class, and
which has become old, should be unearthed and stowed in
a room, while the one, which has become extremely time-
worn* should be rejected. A stone image which has become
broken ar disfigured, should be cast aside, a new one possess-
ing all the attributes and bearing all the characteristic
marks of its predicessor, should be installed in its place, all
the tattvas having been consecutively merged into the fun-
damental principle of the universe by the priest according
to the process of merging fully dealt with in the Chapter 59,
(l—2). The priest should unearth the image after having
performed.tbe Homa ceremony by uttering thousand times
the mantra sacred to the Narsinha manifestation of Vishnu.
An old image made of wood should be reduced to ashes
by fire, white one of stone should be cast into the
water (3). An old image made of metal or gems should be
carried in a vehicle wrapped in a piece of cloth and drowned
m deep water or in the sea, accompanied by the notes o£
tt»e sacred music (Indian) and money remunerations should
be given to the priest who woald officiate at the ceremony.
A new image should be consecrated and installed in the
place of the old one, made of the same substance and having
the same dimensions as tfee latter, great merit being attached
to the dredging and reexeavation of old wells, tanks and
the large and artificial reservoirs of water (4—5).